Charlotte and Shirley are such complete opposites that you might expect them to hate each other, but they've been best friends for years. On the ferry ride to a Christmas vacation on an island off the coast of Washington state, they meet Brian, an enigma of a man with suspiciously good manners.

Since the three of them hit it off right from the start, they meet up for dinner during their stay. But Brian's story about who he is and what he's doing on the island changes every time they see him. Charlotte shrugs it off, but to Shirley this is a mystery that must be solved.

Shirley puts on her detective hat and stalks him all over the island, leaving Charlotte alone to write letters in her head to her favorite teacher from high school. Their vacation seems to be sliding into disaster territory.

But chance encounters, frustrated plans, snippets of truth, and a good dose of Hallmark Christmas movies get them through the rough patches and back in vacation mode ? until Brian and Charlotte discover a connection from the past that will change their lives forever.

This half-mystery, half-romance takes place amid the stunning beauty of the border islands with a cast of characters that will make you laugh and groan, but ultimately leave you with a Hallmark glow of your own.